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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.